Physiotherapy

By law, the Ministry of Health issues a certificate of profession for the physiotherapy profession.

Only a person who holds a Physiotherapy Therapy Certificate from the Ministry of Health is entitled to present himself as a physiotherapist in Israel.

On July 30, 2008, Medical Professions Regulation Act 2008 (hereinafter the “Medical Professions Law”), was published in the in the government gazette. The law took effect on January 30, 2009. The prohibitions listed in the law took effect on February 1, 2011.

By law, applicants for the certificate are required to be appropriately educated and trained (holders of a Bachelor’s degree as a minimum), and they must pass a government examination in this profession, as well as fulfilling all of the other legal requirements including citizenship, honesty and fitness.

Anyone who is in possession of an old Status Recognition Certificate, which was valid on July 22, 2005, is eligible to submit a request to receive a certificate in the health profession without having to undergo the government examination. This eligibility is not limited by any deadline.

The validity of all the other interim directives in the law concerning the physiotherapy, has expired.

The information presented on the website is of a general nature. In case of a contradiction between that which appears on the website and the text of the law, the text of the law shall prevail.

Contact details provided by candidates are the basis for contacting them. Provision of erroneous information will not enable processing of the application.

Amendment to the Regulation of Practicing Health Professions Law 2008: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Nutrition

On February 20, 2016, a fourth amendment (provisional order) to the Regulation of Practicing Health Professions Law 2008 pertaining to the professions physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nutrition was published.

According to the amendment, for a period of five years from the day of publication of the law (until January 31, 2021), the director of the Medical Professions Licensing Department is allowed to recognize studies taken overseas outside the scope of an academic degree in these professions as long as a number of conditions have been fulfilled.

The applicant satisfies all other requirements of the law for receiving a certificate;
The studies certificate has been issued by a higher education institute or a professional studies institute that is recognized by the authorities in the overseas country;
The Ministry of Health has recognized the institute, the certificate, the syllabus, etc., as being equivalent to those practiced in Israel;
The studies diploma is recognized by the authorities in the overseas country for practicing the profession in that country;

The provisions of the law will not apply to a resident of Israel domiciled in Israel before leaving Israel to take those studies.

The full conditions on this matter are detailed in the amendment wording.

Applicants having studied these professions whose application has been rejected previously because the profession studies were not for an academic degree are allowed to apply again to the Medical Professions Licensing Department along with an updated questionnaire for healthcare workers and an application for examination in the profession form (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nutrition).

The application is to be sent by registered mail to the Medical Professions Licensing Department, the Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, P.O. Box 1176, Jerusalem 9101102.

For inquiries, contact the Health Voice call center *5400.